The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-17
The Land once Trouble.

Mr. Sparks connection with the General
Land Oftice has closed, ami doubtless there
are not few persons who are glad OF it.
He is very difficult man TO get along with
and generally succeeds in making trouble
for those with whom he has business or
Official relations He is man of ability,
and, as far as the public knows, of integrity,
but he is overbearing and contentious. He
thinks that his way is the right way, and he
viii not accept orders from his official
supcriors unless the orders are such as meet
with his approval,
In his letter 10 the President, which ac
companied his resignation, he endeavors to
make it appear that the differences between
Secretary Lamar and himself related wholly
to questions Of law, and not to authority,
and his statement of the case is calculated
to create the impression that he has not
been dealt with justly. Doubtless he under
stands his case just as he puts it, because
men like him do not think it possible that
they can be wrong.
II the reports which are telegraphed from
Washington, however, are TO be relied upon,
Mr.. Sparks was a source of annoyance al
most from the day he entered the Land Of
flee. He assumed at once that he knew
more about how the Office should be con-
Quoted than the Secretary, and looked upon
himself as responsible TO the country for all
that was done in il. He seemed to aim at
making reputation for himself as the de-
fender Of the rights Of the poor settler,
and in pursuit of that aim he succeeded
quite effectually ing obstructing business.
Secretary Lamar never said word that
could be construed as unfriendly TO him, al
though reports frequently reached him that
Mr.. Sparks was speaking Of his adnlinistra-
ton Of the Interior Department in a very
disparaging way.
The immediate cause of Mr.. Lamar's let
ter, telling Mr.. Sparks that one or the
other of them would have TO resign, was
letter Of Mr. Sparks to Mr.. Lamar relative
to the land grant OF the Omaha railroad.
Mr.. Lamar gave Mr.. Sparks written direc-
tons for the adjustment Of that grant, and
asked him if b: had any views to express
npon them. If he had none Mr.. Lamar de-
sired him to adjust the Omaha grant at
once in accordance with the act Of Congress.
Mr.. Lamar told him particularly not to
write him an official letter and sign it as
Commissioner OF the General Land Office,
about the advisability of settling the grant
in accordance with the law and precedents,
because he did not want TO receive such
letter.
Mr. Sparks did not adjust the grant, but
he did write the very kind Of letter that
Mr.. Lamar objected TO- In it he reviewed
all the differences between Mr.. Lamar and
himself, and of course tried to make it APP
pear that Mr.. Lamar was in the wrong Mr..
Lamar at once concluded that it was time
for him or Mr. Sparks 10 go, and Mr..
Sparks has gone. The Secretary had
either TO accept Mr.. Sparks views on all
matters relating to public lands. or devote
his whole time to a correspondence with
him. As he was not disposed TO do one
thing or the other, and as he alone was re-
sponsib,e for the acts of the department, be
adopted the only honorable course that was
open to him. That the press and the pub
lie will generally sustain him there is no
doubt The General Land Office will be
much more satisfactorily administered
without Mr.. Sparks than it was with him,
and none Of the reforms contemplated by
the administration will be abandoned.